Five Dynasties River Mountains Fengyue

Emperor Shi thought for a while: "Tell him, Jinzhou is enough to fight at most, the land of Liaodong is not the priority, as long as the frontal war goes well, cut off the Liaoxi Corridor, and isolate Liaodong, it is not difficult to win.

On the contrary, Jinzhou and others are guarding the important areas of the West Liao Corridor. They must be held in their hands. The Liao army in the west is the biggest threat. For the most important land, we must not engage in meaningless competition because of our eagerness to make contributions.

At the beginning of the battle of Huainan, the wind was smooth, and the generals competed for merit. The important town of Shouzhou did not go down. . "

Zhao Shijian stood up and wrote down his words. Emperor Shi did not restrict how they fought, but he had to remind these generals strategically.

The reason why Lin Renzhao was reminded of the Huainan Battle was because Lin Renzhao was newly attached to the imperial court, and he definitely wanted to make meritorious service the most.

The Battle of Huainan was fought for more than two years, and it was indeed a good lesson. If the troops were concentrated to fight Shouzhou at the beginning, it would be difficult for the Southern Tang Dynasty to make any waves. But the state has been slow.

The same is true for the battles in western Liaoning and eastern Liaoning. There are no other lands that can be conquered. As long as the important towns in the western Liaoning corridor, such as Jinzhou, Yuguan, Pingzhou, and Yingzhou, are under the control of the Liao army, no amount of land can be defended. Sooner or later To lose.

This is the strategic direction, and Emperor Shi, as the highest decision-maker, must check this aspect.

"For now, although there are a few small victories, there is still no breakthrough in strategy." Emperor Shi got up and glanced at the huge map that had been hanging in the hall.

Troubled in his mind, he pulled the written Zhao Shijian over again to soothe his soul.

At this moment, the clerk outside hurried over and saw him hugging Zhao Shijian and stepping over his face. Zhao Shijian blushed and wanted to get up, but was held by Emperor Shi and couldn't break free.

"If you have anything to say, just say it." Emperor Shi's old face was thicker than the city wall, and he didn't care about such trivial matters.

The officials even lowered their heads and turned around, not daring to look up, and said loudly, "Officials, a great victory behind the mountain!" As they spoke, they handed out the battle report.

Emperor Shi had always listened to Zhao Shijian, the little secretary who accompanied him, summing up, and the officials were used to it. Now she finally got up in a hurry, took the battle report pretending to be calm, and looked at it immediately.

The clerk also retreated tactfully.

After being quiet for a while, Zhao Shijian showed joy, "Great victory behind the mountain, Yang Jiye and Li Jilong set up an ambush near Yanzhou, defeated the Liao army, wiped out more than [-] enemies, captured more than [-], and killed the Liao army general Yeluxiu!

According to the account of the Liao people, Brother Yeluxiu is the commander of the West Route Army. The Liao Army has more than [-] people in the west, and they are almost wiped out! "

Zhao Shijian finally made a summary for him: "The west of the Liao army is empty!"

Emperor Shi also stood up at once, walked to the map in a few strides, glanced at the position behind the mountain, suppressed his inner excitement, and asked, "What do they think?"

"I asked Xiang Xun, Guo Jin, Yang Jiye, and Li Jilong to use Xiang Xun as the main force, and go straight into the area of ​​King Xi's Yazhang from the back of the mountain to cut off the retreat of the main force of the Liao Central Army." His wife summed up the opinions of the front-line generals in one sentence.

....

"Send fast horses immediately. We must go to Yanzhou today and tell them to give permission. After marching northward, we don't need to ask for instructions. We can make our own decisions." Shi Huangdi said. After all, it was a matter of mobilizing tens of thousands of the main force. Now that they are close to Youzhou, they asked the emperor for instructions. If possible, we have to go northward, the mountains are high and the roads are far away. We can’t ask the emperor about everything before making decisions, because it’s too late to deal with the rapidly changing war.

Whether it is the two veterans Xiang Xun and Guo Jin, or the two rookies Yang Jiye and Li Jilong, he can trust them and believe in their abilities.

Soon, Zhao Shijian drafted the imperial edict and ordered Kuaima Qibali to send it out urgently.

Later, Emperor Shi asked about the specific battle process, casualties, credits, etc. He was deeply moved when he heard that it was the Hedong soldiers who desperately held up the Liao army to complete the annihilation. That's fine, let Zhao Shijian write it down too.

Gradually began to conceive the situation on the long front of more than a thousand miles in his mind. In the afternoon, Emperor Shi sent an edict to Li Chuyun, the Chinese army, asking them to attack the Chinese army of the Liao Kingdom more proactively, thinking that it would attract attention , Create more opportunities for the West Route Army.

"The situation has changed now, this is a strategic turning point!" Emperor Shi suppressed his inner joy, and calmly commented that no matter how the future war situation goes, this battle behind the mountain, where Yeluxiu was killed with one shot, will definitely last forever. In the annals of history.

Emperor Shi lamented, Brother Yeluxiu, I never thought that he would be recorded in the annals of history forever in such a way.

Apart from emotion, he is more happy that Qin State has lost a great enemy. He was still worried at the beginning. There are many generals in Liao State. Among them, Brother Yeluxiu is one of the people he fears the most because of his great reputation in history. It is said that the spies of the Liao Kingdom have brought a lot of news about him these years. Yeluxiu has quelled tribal rebellions for the Liao Kingdom these years.

But no matter how brave the flesh and blood is, it can't stop a shell!

Chapter 530, Meng Xuanzhe

Wipe off the mud marks on the hard leather riding boots with his sleeves, tidy up the riding whip, hand it over to the guards around him, and adjust his clothes, and then Meng Xuanzhe asked the guards outside the big tent to report.

The soldiers have long been used to it, and said with a smile: "General Meng is the most particular in the whole army!"

Meng Xuanzhe laughed and didn't care, "Be quick, the commander said he has something to discuss."

"The commander-in-chief has explained, there is no need to report, the general can go in directly." The soldier said.

"Then let me wait!"

"Aren't you waiting for the general to dress up?"

Meng Xuanzhe ignored it and went directly to the big account.

Meng Xuanzhe was no longer the timid and fat man in Houshu. Now he has lost a lot of weight and is even darker. He is the Jiedu envoy of Zhenzhou in the Great Qin Dynasty. prestige.

In the beginning, some people in the army could not understand Meng Xuanzhe's way of doing things, but now no one would say that, because respect is all played out.

No one would have imagined that the crown prince in Houshu who left the army and fled, who was greedy for life and feared death, betrayed the country for survival, after many years of fighting with the official family, was unexpectedly very capable.

In several battles, no matter whether it was in Hedong, Hebei or Lingnan, although Meng Xuanzhe didn't want those brave generals, he was not at all like before. He was a different person from the beginning, but he gradually gained military merit and rose to a higher position, quite prestigious.

People were all amazed, thinking that the government was really destined to be omnipotent, even people like Meng Xuanzhe could accomplish a lot under his command, and they respected Meng Xuanzhe even more.

Meng Xuanzhe entered the big tent and found that Zhang Zhengtao, Zhang Zhenghai, Zhang Qixian, Liu Qingchuan and other generals were all there, and even greeted them with his hands clasped.

Then Li Chuyun said directly: "The official sent a letter."

As soon as these words came out, everyone became serious and immediately pricked up their ears.

"Great victory at the back of the mountain. The West Route Army defeated the Liao army near Yanzhou. The west is empty. General Xiang Xun has been ordered to lead [-] elite troops to the northwest of Yanzhou, and is going to cut off the rear of the Liao army's central army."

Everyone's eyes lit up.

"Have you already set off?" Liu Qingchuan immediately took a step forward, and he could see his excitement. These veterans all understand what such a breakthrough means.

"We've already set off now, but we have to go over the mountains to the northeast, and the horses can't go too far. The [-] army will take time. They have found a local guide in Yanzhou, but they will definitely not be able to get up soon." Li Chuyun said.

Zhang Qixian, who doesn't know much about military affairs, couldn't help asking: "Why don't they come to support our army directly? If we join forces, our strength will be comparable to the main force of the Liao army. Wouldn't it be a pleasure to defeat it with one blow!"

After he finished speaking, the generals glanced at him like a fool, and then no one answered.

Meng Xuanzhe was the first to change the subject: "What the West Route Army needs most is time."

Li Chuyun nodded: "That's right, the officials said this. The West Route Army needs time. The officials asked my Central Route Army to change its strategy from the previous stand-by and wait-and-see to active provocation and active attack in order to attract the main force of the Liao Army. The West Route Army is buying time."

Everyone fully understood.

Li Chuyun said: "So starting tomorrow, if the Liao army does not take the initiative to attack, I am going to deploy troops to the north into the valley to actively attract and provoke the Liao army. If they take the initiative to attack, it is best. If they do not take the initiative to attack, we will Make several night raids at the end of the month."

After speaking, Zhang Qixian immediately said: "Marshal, I invite the soldiers to go to Beikou!"

Although this scholar didn't have much experience and was not seasoned in military affairs, he was as courageous as he was, and had no stage fright at all.

"Night raids are difficult, you are not suitable." Li Chuyun directly refused. Night battles not only test the soldiers but also the generals, especially when fighting against the Liao army. It is not suitable for a rookie like Zhang Qixian. His eyes fell on Meng Xuanzhe. .

Meng Xuanzhe didn't speak for a while, he had already felt the gaze of the commander-in-chief and understood his thoughts.

But he was worried in his heart. Originally, he was just a timid and shrewd prince of subjugation. He originally thought that after the country was ruined and his family was destroyed, he could continue to live a prosperous life and enjoy his old age comfortably.

Unexpectedly, once in Daliang, when the officials invited him and the generals of Shu to a banquet alone, they said to him, "When I was in Shu, I often heard the ministers of the middle of Shu say that you were smart and read a lot of poetry and books, but your mind was useless. On the right path, I think it is the same, you are actually a person who should make a big difference."

He still remembers those words in his heart. Since then, he has been telling himself that he is a capable and intelligent person, and he should use his mind on business.

Since then, he has been encouraging himself with this, and he has also followed the officials to fight north and south. In fact, when he comes to the battle in person, he is often terrified, but every time he thinks of the officials' expectations and evaluation of him, he insists on holding on. Pretending to be calm.

Unexpectedly, he gradually discovered that he really has some talents. On the battlefield, he thinks farther than many generals, and he can better understand the good intentions of the officials' deployment, and can figure out why many battle formations are used in this way. After a long time, not only was he promoted to the rank of official, but the soldiers also respected him more.

But the more it is like this, the more the officials value it, the more the soldiers respect it, and the more important tasks will be entrusted to him, gradually forcing him to move forward.

When he came back to his senses, the Marshal's expectant gaze was still on him, and Liu Qingchuan and the two brothers of the Zhang family couldn't help looking at him.

Meng Xuanzhe took a deep breath slowly, and recalled what the official said to him in his mind.

"I will do a lot!" He told himself in his heart, and immediately cupped his hands: "Marshal, I invite the troops to go north to deal with the Liao army."

The commander-in-chief did not hesitate, and immediately agreed: "General Meng has conquered the north and south over the years, and has repeatedly made military exploits. With you leading the army, I can rest assured. Please remember that the only main purpose of going north is to attract the attention of the Liao army and keep them safe. , there is also Lotus Fort and hundreds of cannons in the valley to cooperate with you.

If the battle is unfavorable, retreat south along the valley, and our forts can be used as cover along the way, and the army will also defend at the southern end of the valley. "

"I'll go too!" The young man Zhang Qixian pleaded again.

Li Chuyun looked at him, Meng Xuanzhe nodded: "Okay, but Commander Zhang must remember to obey orders."

Zhang Qixian nodded and assured: "Once a man says something, it's hard to follow!"

Although this scholar is a bit bookish, everyone likes his courage not afraid of death, and this guy has a unique bookishness, which is whimsical and very motivating. Every time he goes to war, he makes him speak impassionedly. , It can be said that the blood of the soldiers is surging, which greatly boosts morale.

In the afternoon, after Meng Xuanzhe got out of the big tent, he immediately went to recruit troops.

In the end, he assembled the elite cavalry of the [-]th Battalion of Iron Cavalry, Liu Qingchuan, and Zhang Qixian all followed him and listened to him, and issued military orders to the commanders of each army as soon as they were ready.

Early the next morning, I started to go north along the river valley, and in the afternoon, I arrived in the river valley [-] miles south of the north entrance to settle down, and got in touch with the Qin army in the Lotus Fort ahead.

After questioning, they realized that they didn't need to take the initiative to provoke at all. The soldiers in front reported that the Liao army had increased the cauldron for boiling talisman water to more than 300.

After getting the news, Meng Xuanzhe immediately made a judgment and ordered the whole army not to go north, but to set up camp on the spot. The Liao army must have not noticed their arrival, so his twelve battalions can be used as surprise soldiers, and they can fight at the right time. The Liao army was caught by surprise.

Chapter 531, Battle of Beikou ([-])

"It seems that the people of Liao really believed it."

"In the past few days, they have launched more than a dozen small-scale attacks one after another. The most was 800 people, and the few were only a few dozen people. In the last few times, someone directly let them go to the foot of the city."

On the hill to the south of the north entrance, behind a pine forest, Meng Xuanzhe and Liu Qingchuan were meeting with the six commanders of Lianhuabao on the hill behind to discuss the details of the follow-up operations.

"It's too risky." Meng Xuanzhe said, looking down from a distance, there were six lotus fortresses intertwined in the valley, guarding the valley, and further north, the tall Great Wall at Beikou could be seen from a distance, and Liao army flags were everywhere.

To the south of the Great Wall, there are many camps, stretching into a large area, stretching for more than ten miles from east to west, still without a head, and on several low hillsides near the river valley, there are also Liao army camps everywhere.

There are a lot of Liao army activities near the mouth of the river, and you can still vaguely see hundreds of their cauldrons. On the hillside at the mouth of the river valley, the original Beikou village was completely occupied by those pots. It's all around the house.

"General, it doesn't matter. Anyway, they can't go to the city. The last time I let them go to the edge of the ditch." Several commanders laughed. Meng Xuanzhe is famous for his temper in the army. Everyone follow him One piece is less intense.

"Do they really believe it all?" Meng Xuanzhe felt fantastic looking at those scenes. The cauldrons used by people from the Liao Kingdom to make talisman water were placed from the entrance to the end of the village, and some were even placed on the western hillside. The scale was large enough for them. Making meals for tens of thousands of troops, what kind of scene is this, I have never seen it after fighting for so many years.

The most common ones are to boil golden juice and boil oil and water, but it's not such a big show.

"True letter, great letter, special letter!" Several commanders were quite proud, this is their masterpiece, "We increase the number of empty cannons every day, whoever they can fool, they just came to try it at first glance, they are not sincere to fight.

Let's figure it out, if we don't let them die a day, they think it's useful to drink more water. "

"You still have to be careful, in case they cheat you." Meng Xuanzhe warned.

"Don't worry, general, none of them can enter the pit. When they enter the tunnel, we still have fire mines to use, and throw them directly into the deep pit in the corner. How many people will die there, unless they die enough first, use their corpses The pit is filled." Several conductors filled the air with confidence.

Hearing what they said, Meng Xuanzhe felt the same way. After more than ten years of war and technological innovation, the Qin army now defends the city without relying on rolling logs, stones, gold juice and fire oil. The soldiers prefer to throw fire mines. .

A weapon that has been used in the Battle of Jingnan long ago and has been continuously improved for more than ten years. It has a spherical iron shell filled with gunpowder and iron beads. Once the explosion is astonishingly powerful, it can easily penetrate the iron armor within a dozen steps. Its power can blow people apart at close range.

That is much easier to transport than rolling wood and stones, gold juice and boiling oil, and it is much more powerful, and it is easy to carry.

An ordinary soldier can easily carry several pieces, but the traditional city defense equipment is not easy to obtain materials, not to mention time-consuming and laborious to carry, and it is extremely inconvenient to carry, and its power is not satisfactory.

Meng Xuanzhe nodded: "That's right. As long as the supply continues, the Liao army is unlikely to take down any fortresses. However, you should be careful of the Liao army's cold arrows. There must be many good players in their army."

Several people nodded, this is true, there are too many Liao soldiers.

"General, judging from their preparations these days, they will definitely launch a large-scale attack within three to five days. They have already believed that the talisman works, and they think they have found a way."

Meng Xuanzhe nodded: "If they firmly believe that they can reduce casualties, a full-scale attack will not be far away.

This is exactly what I want. The West Route Army has defeated the Liao Army behind the mountain, and they are passing through the back of the Liao Army from the northwest. The officials hope to fight ahead to attract the attention of the Liao Army from the front.

I was afraid that they would not dare to fight and wanted to organize an active attack. Now it's all right, let's wait for them to fight by themselves. "

Then he discussed with several commanders and said: "We have twelve battalions of cavalry stationed behind you. The Liao army must not know the situation here. After the fight starts, you will severely damage the Liao army and consume their morale. Charge again and defeat their main force in one fell swoop.

However, this requires good cooperation. The rear is too far away, and we don't know the battle on the front line. You need to announce the news that you can attack.

Your artillery fire should also be properly coordinated, so as not to accidentally injure. "

Several people nodded immediately, and then pushed out the commander located in the last fortress, because from his position he could have an overview of the overall battle situation: "General, once the Liao army suffers heavy losses and there are signs of withdrawal, we will immediately release signal flares."

Signal flares are similar to folk fireworks, but Qin Jun's signal flares are improved, adding a lot of black powder and turpentine, the flames are bright, the sound is loud, and they can be seen clearly from several miles away.

Meng Xuanzhe also explained: "If the battle is unfavorable, or if the Liao army uses some unexpected method, you must immediately send a signal in advance, and I will lead the troops to support you."

"Thank you, General!" Several people cupped their hands.

Meng Xuanzhe went on to say: "The commander-in-chief said that the supply ship will come tonight to replenish you with more ammunition for the big battle, if you can put down more, but be careful with the candles, don't fight without a fight, blow yourself up first. "

Several people nodded solemnly. There was indeed a tragedy of mismanagement of candles on the banks of the Daqing River before, which led to the explosion of the ammunition depot, killing seven people. Now the Qin army has a set of rules for controlling candles that have been used for several years.

Afterwards, several people discussed more details, such as fearing that the artillery fire and gunpowder smoke would affect the line of sight, Meng Xuanzhe's army sent messengers to watch the signal flares on the top of the mountain. The army rushed to the water, gave up the east side of the avenue to the artillery to clean up, and agreed on the firing principles of the six bastions after the cavalry entered.

The purpose of discussing these is firstly to better kill the Liao army, and secondly to avoid accidental injury. After all, shells do not recognize people when they are fired.

That afternoon, a group of people overlooked the river valley on the top of the mountain, hiding behind a few dwarf pines, and felt that they had clearly arranged the tens of thousands of Liao troops below.

In the evening, a group of supply ships from the Qin army arrived to replenish the fort with a large amount of ammunition.

A big battle was inevitable, and because he didn't know when the Liao army would launch an attack, but it was roughly in the past few days, Meng Xuanzhe didn't dare to relax. He asked the soldiers to stand still and set an example.